The Venezuelan Government promotes today the strengthening of relations with African countries, objective confirmed during the tour of Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, in Mozambique and South Africa.

The mechanism to close economic links between Latin America and the Caribbean with the African continent was at the center of debate in several meetings held over the weekend by the head of Venezuelan diplomacy with South African authorities.

As part of his agenda, Arreaza participated in the First Economic Dialogue between Venezuela and South Africa, during which he highlighted that to favor productive Exchange and trade is the only way to development for States of the south, said the Foreign Ministry in a press note.

The visit of Venezuelan Foreign Minister to South Africa included a meeting with head of State, Cyril Ramaphosa, to whom he transmitted a greeting from President Nicolas Maduro, as well as thanking him for the notable trade, social, political and economic cooperation with the South American nation.

Previously, Jorge Arreaza, had made a work visit to Mozambique, where authorities of both governments signed a group of agreements to strengthen cooperation ties.

Authorities of both countries approached topics such as the struggle against poverty, gender equality, the operation of the legislative power and its interaction with the people, diversification of the economy and agricultural production.

An EFE article originated in Miami published this Monday hinted that the possibility is close.

However, they write “is yet to be seen”, if he will make significant changes or he will choose to make symbolic retouches.

That is, in comparison with the opening politics boosted by Barack Obama since December 2014 towards Cuba.

The article remembers that the U.S. National Security Council, in charge of that promised revision, will present several variants to the leader.

The news agency doesn't discard an announcement on this regard in Miami, and sees it as “a wink to the anti-Castro sector that has pressed him more on the subject.”

On the same article they quote several sources to consider that the White House could cut business of North American companies with entities related with the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Also to strengthen travelling restrictions of North American citizens to Havana.

“But nothing is final”, assures, until Trump, well known for his inconstant character, makes a decision on the subject.

As to give more hints on the true approach, they emphasizes that it doesn't seem on the top of the list, neither for his political agenda nor his geostrategic interests.

Barely a year ago, MiamiDiario highlighted that Trump said in an interview that he would not care opening a hotel in Cuba.

During the primary elections of the Republican Party he even showed a favorable attitude to the opening with the island.

Outside those scenarios, he remarked, he slowly approached those hard anti-Castro followers “in search of votes in Florida.”

He promised them “to revoke” Obama’s measures, if Cuba doesn't return the liberties to its citizens.

All in all the White House says to prioritize human rights when it revises its behavior towards Havana.

However, what prevails in the current Cuban-American ties? Uncertainty.

From Washington, academics and other specialists insist that is yet to be seen if Trump’s actions meet the heights of his hard speech-making.

Likewise in Washington’s main official circles “nobody seems to encourage a rupture of the two-year-old bilateral agreements.”

One of the streaks that interest more the revision of the North American politics toward Cuba revolves around the squabbles between the State Departments and Agriculture Department.

His “veterans”-as his press calls them - defend to maintain the statuo quo and the strategists at the White House to keep Trump’s electoral promise.

The far-right republican congress members Marco Rubio and Mario Díaz-Balart have outstood during the debate.

“I am sure that the president will keep his promise and he will make selective changes that help the political and economic freedom", of Cuba, declared Rubio.

Trump, adds speculations, he could hinder the business of airlines and cruises that already have itineraries to Havana.

It’s impossible to foretell what will happen, especially when a North American

re-colonizing plan is in motion in Latin America.

However, it can’t be ignored the gradual recovery of the mass movements in the area, there are the examples of Brazil and Argentina.

Ecuador corroborates the validity of progressive forces capable of facing and dismantling large stratagems from the U.S.

Rejecting the progress attained so far in the Cuba - U.S. relations, is not a simple task.

Especially when figures like Nicolás Maduro, Evo Morales, Rafael Correa, Cristina Fernández, Lula, Dilma and others remain active. All of them supported by the presence of Raúl Castro and the legacy of Cuba and Fidel.

An EFE article originated in Miami published this Monday hinted that the possibility is close.

However, they write “is yet to be seen”, if he will make significant changes or he will choose to make symbolic retouches.

That is, in comparison with the opening politics boosted by Barack Obama since December 2014 towards Cuba.

The article remembers that the U.S. National Security Council, in charge of that promised revision, will present several variants to the leader.

The news agency doesn't discard an announcement on this regard in Miami, and sees it as “a wink to the anti-Castro sector that has pressed him more on the subject.”

On the same article they quote several sources to consider that the White House could cut business of North American companies with entities related with the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Also to strengthen travelling restrictions of North American citizens to Havana.

“But nothing is final”, assures, until Trump, well known for his inconstant character, makes a decision on the subject.

As to give more hints on the true approach, they emphasizes that it doesn't seem on the top of the list, neither for his political agenda nor his geostrategic interests.

Barely a year ago, MiamiDiario highlighted that Trump said in an interview that he would not care opening a hotel in Cuba.

During the primary elections of the Republican Party he even showed a favorable attitude to the opening with the island.

Outside those scenarios, he remarked, he slowly approached those hard anti-Castro followers “in search of votes in Florida.”

He promised them “to revoke” Obama’s measures, if Cuba doesn't return the liberties to its citizens.

All in all the White House says to prioritize human rights when it revises its behavior towards Havana.

However, what prevails in the current Cuban-American ties? Uncertainty.

From Washington, academics and other specialists insist that is yet to be seen if Trump’s actions meet the heights of his hard speech-making.

Likewise in Washington’s main official circles “nobody seems to encourage a rupture of the two-year-old bilateral agreements.”

One of the streaks that interest more the revision of the North American politics toward Cuba revolves around the squabbles between the State Departments and Agriculture Department.

His “veterans”-as his press calls them - defend to maintain the statuo quo and the strategists at the White House to keep Trump’s electoral promise.

The far-right republican congress members Marco Rubio and Mario Díaz-Balart have outstood during the debate.

“I am sure that the president will keep his promise and he will make selective changes that help the political and economic freedom", of Cuba, declared Rubio.

Trump, adds speculations, he could hinder the business of airlines and cruises that already have itineraries to Havana.

It’s impossible to foretell what will happen, especially when a North American

re-colonizing plan is in motion in Latin America.

However, it can’t be ignored the gradual recovery of the mass movements in the area, there are the examples of Brazil and Argentina.

Ecuador corroborates the validity of progressive forces capable of facing and dismantling large stratagems from the U.S.

Rejecting the progress attained so far in the Cuba - U.S. relations, is not a simple task.

Especially when figures like Nicolás Maduro, Evo Morales, Rafael Correa, Cristina Fernández, Lula, Dilma and others remain active. All of them supported by the presence of Raúl Castro and the legacy of Cuba and Fidel.

Cuban and Portuguese foreign ministers, Bruno Rodriguez and Augusto Santos Silva, respectively, extolled today the strength of their bilateral relations in all areas, by means of a free-flowing exchange between both countries.

Santos Silva and Rodriguez ratified their wish to continue consolidating those links, during a meeting in Lisbon, as part of the official visit to this Iberian country by the head of the Cuban diplomacy.

Both foreign ministers reviewed the issues on the bilateral agenda, with emphasis on the political, diplomatic, cultural and trade areas, through exchange of delegations, the signing of new agreements and the increase of trade, investment and tourist influx.

According to the Cuban embassy in this capital, the ministers dealt with issues of common interest about the current international situation, and agreed on calling very positive the relations between their respective countries.

Rodriguez thanked Portugal's favorable vote to the Cuban resolution for the lifting of the economic, financial and trade blockade of Cuba by the United States.

Besides, he highlighted the contribution by Portugal top the progress of the relations between Cuba and the European Union, making possible the signing of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement in December, 2016, according to the Cuban embassy.

During his stay in Lisbon until Thursday, the Cuban foreign minister will develop a working program that includes meetings at the Portuguese parliament headquarters, the source added.

Cuba and South Africa have reaffirmed here their strong ties of friendship and the excellent level of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, at the end of the official visit today by Council of State vice president, Salvador Valdes Mesa.

Valdes Mesa, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party, arrived in the African nation on Tuesday, January 31st, in his first visit to South Africa, and held meetings at the highest level with leaders of the government, the African National Congress (ANC) and other political organizations that comprise the triple alliance.

Valdes Mesa and his peer and host, South African Vice President, Cyril Ramaphosa, held official talks yesterday. In a subsequent joint statement to the press, the Cuban vice president highlighted the appreciation for the warm welcome in this brother town and highlighted some aspects of the historical ties between both nations, as well as the course of cooperation, which is currently extended and expanded to several sectors.

South Africa and Cuba enjoy a very special relationship not only in the political, because of the contribution of the Caribbean country during the anti-apartheid phase, but also in the social sphere, especially in health, Ramaphosa stressed.

Prior to the meeting, the Cuban leader was received by President, Jacob Zuma, who wished him a fruitful stay.

Zuma testified Valdés Mesa's participation in the recently concluded 28th African Union Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to which Cuba attended as a guest country.

Valdes Mesa's agenda -which ends today when traveling to Maputo, Mozambique- included a tour of the Beki Mlangeni Hospital, where he exchanged with workers and patients from that facility. This health institution was opened in April 2015 in the popular residential area of Soweto.

Upon his arrival to the hospital, accompanied by his delegation and ambassador to Pretoria, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, the visitor was welcomed by Deputy Health Minister, Joe Phaahla, administrative staff, the Cuban Medical Mission leadership and some collaborators.

Phaahla expressed gratitude for the presence of physicians, whose work he described as 'excellent' and worthy of mention, because they go where they are most needed, 'where health services are deficient,' he said.

The Council of State vice president paid a tribute yesterday to late ANC leader, Oliver Tambo, in the context of his 100th death anniversary this year.

Benson Ngqentsu, Brian Bunting District Secretary of the South African Communist Party, made a call to the progressive forces in his country to support the international solidarity with Cuba campaign, reported Prensa latina news agency.

This 2014 is a significant year for the history of the relationships between Japan and Cuba, since we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese: Samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga, in the Caribbean Archipelago.

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In Sancti Spiritus People also Shouted ´I am Fidel´

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Cubasí.cu interviewed translator Aracelia del Valle from Escambray website on people’s reaction for the journey of the caravan carrying the remains of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro to Santiago de Cuba.